Do you make the grade?

Deepa Dumblekar thinks exams can be an opportunity for bonding between parents and youngsters

DEEPA DUMBLEKAR thinks exams can be an opportunity for bonding between parents and youngsters

It is that time of the year when both students and parents are likely to experience high levels of stress at the thought of the impending exams. It is a testing time literally.u00a0

Stress test? It's for parents to ensure that youngsters take a healthy approach to academicsu00a0u00a0u00a0 Pic for representation only

Students are not considered normal if they are relaxed, having fun, or even studying at home. On the contrary, the more number of tuition classes they attend never mind how tired they may be both physically and mentally at the end of the whole rigmarole the more studious they are supposed to be. As for parents, it is a three-pronged ordeal u2013 trying to understand and motivate their children, convincing the teachers that their children are doing their best, and flowing with a demanding society.

Yet, parents being the closest to their children must stand by them in this critical situation because they know their children better than anyone else. Understanding is the key word here. Let me elaborate.

Through the growing-up years, parents get an idea of the strengths and weaknesses of their children. A heart-to-heart talk in a relaxed and non-judgmental atmosphere can do wonders. Trained career counselors can help both the parents and the youngster achieve a working consensus. The idea is to help children discover their competencies and develop them rather than focus on what they lack.

The story of the animal school is very relevant here. The bird, the squirrel, the fish, the rabbit and the dog went to school and were required to take all subjects. The bird was excellent in flying but bad at burrowing; the squirrel was great at tree climbing but couldn't swim. The fish was great at swimming but could not get out of water to do anything else while the rabbit got excellent grades in burrowing but tree climbing was a problem for him. Soon the bird was too weak to fly, the squirrel slowed down in tree climbing and the rabbit could no longer burrow properly. The dog quit school as everybody despised his barking!u00a0

Given the rise of suicides among youngsters who give in to needless fear, anxiety and pressure, parents would do very well to adopt a healthy attitude towards academic performance.

Love, understanding and encouragement from parents go a long way in nurturing a happy and well-adjusted child.